French woman, 91, still pounding forehands

FILE - In this Jan. 19, 1983, file photo, San Diego Chargers Chuck Muncie breaks free from Pittsburgh Steelers defender Dwayne Woodruff as he runs for a gain during the fourth quarter of an NFL football playoff game in Pittsburgh. The New Orleans Saints announced Tuesday, May 14, 2013, that Muncie, a Pro Bowl running back with both the Saints and Chargers, has died. He was 60. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy, File)
— AP

FILE - In this Jan. 19, 1983, file photo, San Diego Chargers Chuck Muncie breaks free from Pittsburgh Steelers defender Dwayne Woodruff as he runs for a gain during the fourth quarter of an NFL football playoff game in Pittsburgh. The New Orleans Saints announced Tuesday, May 14, 2013, that Muncie, a Pro Bowl running back with both the Saints and Chargers, has died. He was 60. (AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy, File)
/ AP

Told that the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club stages a fantastic tournament for seniors, Helene Salvetat of France entered the U.S. National Senior Women’s Hard Court Championships.

Upon arriving at the stately, ocean-front facility Monday, Salvetat, 91, was delivered some bad news.

Her competition had vanished. Last year’s finalists had passed away. Others in her age group, including Escondido’s 96-year-old Dodo Chaney, who has won nearly 400 national titles, had bowed out with injuries.

Salvetat didn’t travel 6,000-plus miles to sit in a lounge chair and feel waves lap at her feet. So she entered the 80s singles. Plus the 80s and 90s doubles.

Salvetat and partner Jane Howard of San Diego finished second in the 90s doubles. That there were only two teams in the 90s doubles field shouldn’t diminish Salvetat’s feat, although she wasn’t that pleased earning a small silver ball trinket as her reward.

“I lost,” said Salvetat. “I don’t like losing.”

Salvetat, take II

The adjectives adventurous and curious fit Salvetat. Her youthful husband, 72-year-old Jacques, says that 10 years ago his wife sailed from Ireland to France.

She took up golf a year ago, longs to surf, owns four computers and takes two 90-minute tennis lessons a week. Sports she has sampled through the years include horseback riding, field hockey and rowing.

“She asks a lot of questions,” said Jacques. “Sometimes she wakes me up at 3 in the morning and asks, ‘Please, Jacques, can we go outside and see the stars, the planets, the Milky Way? Me? I am thinking, ‘It’s 3 in the morning. I’m tired.’”

As for the secret to her longevity, Salvetat says, “I love sports. I love all sports. I can’t sit in a chair.”

This/that

Dick Enberg mixed his rays last weekend, saying Tampa’s nickname once was the Stingrays rather than Devil Rays. … Got the NFL crossed up with MLB, too, referring to the Padres’ opponent as the Buccaneers … Also butchered a Padres pitching change. Other than that, good series.

U-T columnist Nick Canepa covered the Chargers for the Evening Tribune in 1982 and '83 when Chuck Muncie was nearing the end of his career.

Canepa, still mending on the disabled list, stepped into the memory vault this week and recalled an out-of-shape Muncie showing up for an offseason workout, sprawled on the practice field, waiting to run a 40.